New vice president settles into role; receptions set

With a few weeks on the job, the new vice president for Inclusion and Equity said the campus community has been open and engaging.

Jesse M. Bernal began his tenure at Grand Valley in late February. He said his time since then has been spent meeting faculty and staff members, and students, including during quick visits to the student services centers.

“I had some open time on my calendar last week, so I popped into the LGBT Resource Center, Women’s Center and Office of Multicultural Affairs,” Bernal said. “It was great to see each packed with students.”

Bernal said his first priorities are to listen and learn from community members on campus and in the area.

“It is important that I get to know more about the opportunities and challenges in our community, and better understand the experiences and perceptions of all members of our diverse university,” he said. “I also want to recognize and learn from the long-standing diversity champions at Grand Valley and in West Michigan who have led equity and inclusion work for decades.”

He said the mission of the Division of Inclusion and Equity is to provide a rich, inclusive learning and working environment that attracts, retains and supports a diverse campus community.

“The next phase of these efforts includes working to ensure equity is embedded across the campus and ingrained in all of our functions and decision-making,” he said.

One goal this year, Bernal said, is to continue to support Grand Valley in further developing its strategic priority to advance equity and inclusion work on campus. “This will require many robust conversations to better understand opportunities on campus,” he said.

Welcome receptions

Two receptions are planned for faculty and staff members to welcome Bernal to campus.

All faculty and staff members are invited to either reception: Wednesday, March 11, from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center, Thornapple Room; or Thursday, March 19, from 3:30-5 p.m. in the DeVos Center, University Club Room.

Bernal had served most recently as director of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion at Santa Clara University in California, and previously served as diversity coordinator for the University of California system.